Free flap neovascularization: myth or reality?

The blood supply of 17 free flaps was studied several months after surgery. The aim was to see whether or not the free flaps acquired blood flow through vessels across the flap inset independently of the main vascular anastomoses. A color Doppler flowmeter was used to identify the original arterial and venous anastomoses, the vessels in the margin of the flap, and also across the flap inset.